NFL bans teams from supplying smelling salts.
NFL Sends Strong Message on Latest Controversy originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
You’d think the NFL’s biggest drama this week would come from training camp or a trade rumor. Nope. It’s smelling salts. Yes, the same stuff players sniff for a jolt before taking the field.
The league dropped a surprise memo on Tuesday, banning all teams from supplying ammonia inhalants, including capsules, cups or any other form. Coaches, trainers, team docs, nobody’s allowed to hand them out anymore. According to ESPN, the policy doesn’t ban players from using them. It just puts the responsibility on the players to bring their own if they choose to.
ESPN has obtained a message the NFLPA sent to players Wednesday night- clarifying that the league's ban on smelling salts ONLY applies to clubs providing it to players. Meaning... BYOSS. pic.twitter.com/PzWM1MeIzh
— Kalyn Kahler (@kalynkahler) August 6, 2025
This sudden move created a bit of chaos. San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle, known for using them before every drive, joked he might retire. “I've been distraught all day,” he said, crashing a teammate’s interview. “We’ve got to figure out a middle ground here.”
His humor aside, players didn’t take the change lightly. The NFLPA chimed in the next day, clarifying that it wasn’t a total ban, but a restriction on clubs from distributing the stuff.
Player Use Still Allowed, But NFL Draws the Line
So why the crackdown? The league cited a 2024 FDA warning. The agency flagged ammonia inhalants for lacking proven benefits while posing health risks. The NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee added that these inhalants could hide signs of neurological distress, including potential concussion symptoms. That raised major red flags.
The rule hits a long-standing player ritual. Ammonia and smelling salts have been part of sports culture, from the gridiron to the boxing ring. But not everyone’s on board anymore. Some combat sports already banned them, arguing they mask serious injury.
For now, the NFL says players can still sniff, just not from the team supply.
Related: Are massive NIL deals leading to NFL rookie setbacks?
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
